PEEKSKILL, N.Y. — Southern rock and roll and the aroma of grilled food and autumn's local beers filled the air Saturday evening as the Peekskill Brewery and The Peak hosted the Hudson Hops & Harvest Festival at Riverfront Green.

"We did this on our own the first three years and we had maybe 1,500 to 2,000 people and that was the start," Peekskill Brewery owner Keith Berardi said as he watch his staff tap hundreds of his home-brewed beers under a large white tent. "We partnered with The Peak (107.1-FM Radio) for this one and we expect more than 3,000 to come."

Berardi touted his brewery's craft beers as crowds enjoyed the grilled and Hudson Valley-produced farm-to-table foods and music on a perfect autumn evening.

The Peekskill Brewery is celebrating it's fourth anniversary.

The event began at 4 p.m. and ran through 11 p.m. as the crowds moved from the festival venue to the Peekskill Brewery's location opposite the Peekskill train station.

Ronnie and Linda Stratford rode the train up from Tarrytown to taste beer.

"It's a great event," Ronnie Stratford said. "We were here last year and it's gotten much bigger. There's good music and still good weather. And the beers are excellent, of course."